Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 90, Shloka 27

Adhyaya 90 — The Slaying of Shumbha and the Reabsorption of the Goddesses into Ambika

Sanskrit

अवादयंस् तथैवान्ये ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ।

ववुः पुण्यास्तथा वाताः सुप्रभोऽभूद्दिवाकरः ॥

Transliteration

avādayaṃs tathaivānye nanṛtuś cāpsaro-gaṇāḥ /

vavuḥ puṇyās tathā vātāḥ suprabho 'bhūd divākaraḥ

Translation

又有他者奏诸乐器；众阿普萨罗（天女）起舞。吉祥之风吹拂，日轮以辉煌光明照耀。

Word by Word

• avādayan: played (instruments), made resound
• avādayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (वद् धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; रूपम्: अवादयन् (te) ‘they caused to sound/played’

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis): ‘indeed/just’

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• nanṛtuḥ: danced
• nanṛtuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (नृत् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• apsarā-gaṇāḥ: groups of Apsarases
• apsarā-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (अप्सरस् प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (गण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (apsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ)

• vavuḥ: blew
• vavuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vā (वा धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• puṇyāḥ: auspicious, holy
• puṇyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (पुण्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘vātāḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tathā: also/thus
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक

• vātāḥ: winds
• vātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāta (वात प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• su-prabhaḥ: bright, splendid
• su-prabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु- उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + prabha (प्रभ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सुन्दरः प्रभः/प्रभायुक्तः’

• abhūt: became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• divākaraḥ: the sun
• divākaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (दिवाकर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devī Māhātmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Apsarases
• Sūrya (Divākara)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as bestower of auspiciousness (śubha)

Key Themes

• Auspicious signs
• Cosmic harmony
• Ritual aesthetics (music/dance)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When oppression ends, auspiciousness manifests outwardly; the Purāṇic worldview links ethical order with environmental and celestial ‘brightness’.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative closure within manvantara-framed sacred history, signaling the re-stabilization of the age’s moral and cosmic climate.

What is the esoteric significance?

Radiant sun and holy winds represent sattva arising after tamas is cut down—clarity, vitality, and unobstructed movement of prāṇa.